Regarding the June 14 op-ed, “A quartz countertop tariff could double your kitchen renovation cost — and kill 13 jobs for every one it creates:”

In his recent opinion piece regarding a tariff recommended by the U.S. International Trade Commission to address serious import injury, Steve Swedberg fails to cite a single source to back his unfounded claims.

Swedberg’s assertion that tariffs on imported quartz countertops could somehow “double” kitchen renovation costs is simply inaccurate. The ITC’s safeguard investigation flatly rejected numerous claims that imposing a tariff on U.S. quartz surface imports will contribute to “housing affordability” concerns in the United States, finding that imported quartz surface products represent only 0.07% of the cost of a new home. Based on an average countertop size of 40 square feet and average 2025 import price of $7.33/SF, a 50% tariff (the highest rate permitted by this type of trade case, which Swedberg neglects to mention) could add $183 to the cost of a new kitchen at most. This amount equals only 0.03% of the average price of a new home. 

In reality, the domestic quartz industry supports more than 100,000 American jobs across manufacturing, fabrication, distribution and installation, none of whom benefit from a market distorted by unfair imports. The independent, bipartisan ITC agrees, recognizing severe import injury and recommending strong relief. 

Luke Meisner, Legal Counsel, Quartz Manufacturing Alliance of America 

Washington, D.C.